As a kid collecting baseball cards, I used the 1983 Topps Super Veterans subset as a tool to learn about the ‘older’ players in the game. The set was large and it featured images from the beginning of each player’s career and then images that were current (1982-83).

When I got back into collecting in 2008, this same subset was the first one I went after. I had built it 20+ years prior, but I wanted to re-live my youth by doing it again. So, I did. And it re-kindled my enjoyment for vintage baseball cards and the players that helped shape the history of the game.

Upon completion of that subset, and learning that Topps had begun recycling older designs in their modern releases, I kept my fingers crossed that ‘Super Veterans’ would eventually be re-done.

And when 2014 Topps, Series 1 hit the shelves, a 15-card subset of ‘Super Veterans’ was included. I was ecstatic. And I quickly made this a target for my collection. And after a few days of shopping around, I scored the complete 15-card set and began showing it off on this blog as I did with the 1983 set back in 2009.

So, here they are. First the 1983 version:

And now, the 2014 set:

And now for my review and comparison.

The edge goes to ’83 as it relates to size – 35 to 15

The edge goes to ’14 as it relates to % of future Hall of Fame inclusions: 14/35 players versus a likely 7/15 ( I did not count Peter Rose, though I want to)

There is a tie in regards to how the images of yore are shown – Sepia tones in both ’83 and ’14

The edge goes to ’83 as it relates to ‘Star Power’

Overall, I of course like both sets. I wish that the 2014 version included more players on the checklist or at least was continued into the Series 2 release. I don’t find that the 2014 version has the same star power that the set from ’83 offers even though it features Jeter, Rivera, and Cabrera – I just don’t think that Topps truly dug in deep enough to really get behind this set. It feels like it was put together as a way to add Pettitte and Rivera cards into yet another subset. If they had truly shown us the longest tenured players in the majors, we would have had a more apples-to-apples comparison. The set is called ‘Super Veterans’ for a reason; it is not called ‘Best Older Players In The Game’. At the very least, and to be more consistent with the original subset, this one should have included Jason Giambi, Ichiro, Paul Konerko, Raul Ibanez, LaTroy Hawkins, and Bartolo Colon. If Topps had taken this step, it would definitely be more true to what ‘Super Veterans’ offered in 1983.

Still, no complaints from my side. I’m thrilled to have both sets in my collection. I’m just thirsty for more!

Oh Yeah!!! I am very, very excited to announce that I have completed another subset at ’30-YOC’. And this time, it is a subset that means the world to me – Topps’ Super Veterans.

The original ‘Super Vets’ subset was part of the 1983 Topps set. It has long been my favorite subset of all-time. I built that set when I got back into the hobby five years ago, and I was extremely excited to see that Topps brought it back for their 2014 release.

Here is the completed 2014 version of ‘Super Veterans’:

I love it!!

And while there may be some questionable entries into the set as well as some notable omissions, I am very happy with the final product. Yes, I had my fingers crossed that the set would expand into the Series 2 and Update sets but that does not look like it will be the case.

So, I will sit back and be proud of another subset completed. A subset that I have been a fan of since 1983!

Yeah baby, the biggest subset I have tackled in years is finally complete. And it took a lot of work to get here.

Thankfully, I had some help with this one. Some trades, some donations, and some shared information all helped me get this one done.

40 cards deep, this set is big. But, the theme is right up my alley – full of modern and vintage players all on a sweet design.

Have a look at all 40 cards:

The set is nice, and I am digging how it looks all together like this. In my album, it is not as clean looking as the cards have a ton of room to shift and slide around in the standard sized 9-pocket page, but I will get over it.

As for the players included in the set, there are a few questionable things going on, but overall I am OK with the checklist. I love the inclusion of Stewart, Concepcion, Greenwell, and Parker but I could have done without some of the others. And way too many Red Sox in the set – 5 out of 40 cards when teams like the Marlins were not recognized at all.

Overall, I love it. And I am very happy with my decision to put this set together when released with 2013 Topps Archives.

On the short list of cards that I told the dealer I was seeking was ‘Any Card From The Tall Boy’ subset.

I knew as soon as I saw these cards in some previews that I was going to want to go after the full set. I love the vintage look, and I like that the checklist features from of my favorite players from the 1980’s.

He pulled five cards from the set during his box break and I swiftly offered him $2.00 for the lot.

Here is my purchase:

My favorites from this lot are the Mike Greenwell and Dave Stewart cards. It’s nice to see these two guys getting some modern-day love!!!

Yessir, I have completed another subset and it is time to show it off in its completed form.

The ‘Mound Dominance’ set is from the 2012 Topps release, and is 15 cards deep.

Here it is, complete:

As for the cards, they look great! I like the graphics that Topps used to identify the strike zone, and the added team logo on top of that graphic is a nice touch. I also really like that every card in the subset offers a color, in-action photograph (though the Gibson, Spahn, and Feller appear to be posed-action). I do wish that Topps used a brighter color for the ‘Mound Dominance’ headline – something that stood out more.

While I am really happy with the look and design of the set, I have to say that there are a few odd things about it that stand out for me as well.

They are:

the set lacks consistency with the theme; from no-hitters to solid outings to dominant playoff appearances, I wish it focused on just one thing

the inclusion of Dennis Eckersley ( a player I loved watching) is peculiar. He is the only non-starter in the set.

Phil Niekro’s card is celebrating his 300th career win – the only card celebrating a career achievement instead the most dominant game of the pitcher’s career.

The set gives us Jon Lester and Armando Gallaraga, but leaves out Clemens, Randy Johnson, Pedro, Schilling, and others that would certainly be also called ‘Dominant’

Overall, I like the set – it looks great, and it is nice to see players like Verlander and Halladay get put into the same conversation as Seaver, Palmer, and Gooden.

Ultimately, I would have liked to have seen multiple versions of the set, maybe in consecutive years. If Topps broke this set into different levels while keeping the graphic components similar, with just enough changes to let them stand alone, they could have been on to something. Imagine if we had: Mound Dominance – No Hitters, Mound Dominance – The Closers, Mound Dominance – The Workhorses, Mound Dominance – The Strikeout Artists, Mound Dominance – Postseason Heroes. If Topps delivered something like that, it would let them bring us something that more truly represented the many ways that one can dominate from the mound. And it would certainly let them capture more collectors as well.